Blank Generation

Classic 1980 Film Starring Richard Hell as a Down and Out NYC Musician

Classic punkrock movie from 1980 starring Richard Hell, illustrating the end of the first wave of New York City punk rock better than other films. Nada (Carole Bouquet), a beautiful French journalist on assignment in New York, records the life and work of up and coming punk rock star, Billy (Richard Hell). Featuring members of the Voidoids and the Ramones. A time capsule from '80's New York City

Comments (6)

Jonathan

Toronto Public Library•3 weeks ago

William: interesting insights! The great thing about sharing reviews is discovering points of solidarity as well as disconnects. I bet you will agree that ultimately it's all about the "discovering." I find that it is easier to articulate what I dislike as opposed to what I like, and I am ...Read more

William: interesting insights! The great thing about sharing reviews is discovering points of solidarity as well as disconnects. I bet you will agree that ultimately it's all about the "discovering." I find that it is easier to articulate what I dislike as opposed to what I like, and I am guessing you agree. In any case, disliking a movie isn't necessarily time wasted. What is a waste is following the herd and liking what everyone else likes or disliking what everyone else dislikes. Happy movie watching!

True enough! I really wanted to like this one--I've always liked Hell's--but it never came together for me. Ah well, so it goes....

William

Columbus Metropolitan Library•3 weeks ago

Wow, that was really...disappointing. I suppose the aimless, meandering story line is an effort to show how "blank" these lives are. But I don't have an explanation for the mediocre acting or the fact that the characters are so poorly defined. A couple decent music videos along the way, but ...Read more

Wow, that was really...disappointing. I suppose the aimless, meandering story line is an effort to show how "blank" these lives are. But I don't have an explanation for the mediocre acting or the fact that the characters are so poorly defined. A couple decent music videos along the way, but otherwise just don't bother.

An amusing movie less for what it is than as an artifact of annoyingly pretentious intellectual art-house filmmaking at its absolutely most unbearable. The acting is so wonderfully awful as to border on the mesmerizingly sublime and the plot . . . the plot . . . well, it has its own ...Read more

An amusing movie less for what it is than as an artifact of annoyingly pretentious intellectual art-house filmmaking at its absolutely most unbearable. The acting is so wonderfully awful as to border on the mesmerizingly sublime and the plot . . . the plot . . . well, it has its own incoherent pace and grind. A (thankfully) brief cameo by Andy Warhol seals the deal. If you are in the right mood, it's the cinematic equivalent of a horrifyingly embarrassing reunion with your 1982 sophomore-year yearbook.

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